Arua vendors clash with authorities
Apr 22, 2010
BUSINESS in Arua town came to a standstill yesterday as the municipal authorities drove out street vendors who had resisted orders to relocate to designated markets.
By Frank Mugabi
BUSINESS in Arua town came to a standstill yesterday as the municipal authorities drove out street vendors who had resisted orders to relocate to designated markets.
The operation started at around 10:30am, when officials from the municipality started trimming trees that provided shade for the vendors.
This prompted the vendors to gang up against the officials although the anti-riot Police deployed and controlled the situation.
No injuries were reported. The irate vendors withdrew while the Police remained on guard as the exercise went on.
As the situation seemed to settle, confusion broke out again after the resident district commissioner, Ibrahim Abiriga, arrived at the scene and ordered the Police to arrest the municipal officials and their agents.
However, the Police, who was commanded by the regional Police boss, Patrick Otika-Akubu, defied the orders.
Abiriga opposes the relocation, saying it is ill-timed ahead of the 2011 general elections and that the vendors could lose their only livelihood.
The mayor, Charles Asiki, said they had allocated the vendors space in the main market and at Awindiri market, while those who sell fabrics were given Gaagaa, the largest textile market in the area.
Asiki said local tax collection had been affected as other business people had refused to pay licence fees, protesting the vendors presence.
In a letter of March 12, the business community threatened not to pay licence fees if the vendors were not relocated.
Asiki disclosed that with barely two months left to the close of the financial year, they had received only sh39m of the usual sh156m in total.
“With this kind of shortfall we are sure of performing poorly in the upcoming national assessment, which will cost the council a 20% cut of central government transfers,†Asiki said.
He noted that this would make it difficult for the council to offer adequate social services.
“Such effects will not arise because of our negligence but because somebody is making our job difficult,†Asiki lamented.
The acting town clerk, Colonalius Jobile, explained that besides the relocation, they also wanted to clear the pedestrian walkways and upgrade them under the town beautification programme.
BUSINESS in Arua town came to a standstill yesterday as the municipal authorities drove out street vendors who had resisted orders to relocate to designated markets.
The operation started at around 10:30am, when officials from the municipality started trimming trees that provided shade for the vendors.
This prompted the vendors to gang up against the officials although the anti-riot Police deployed and controlled the situation.
No injuries were reported. The irate vendors withdrew while the Police remained on guard as the exercise went on.
As the situation seemed to settle, confusion broke out again after the resident district commissioner, Ibrahim Abiriga, arrived at the scene and ordered the Police to arrest the municipal officials and their agents.
However, the Police, who was commanded by the regional Police boss, Patrick Otika-Akubu, defied the orders.
Abiriga opposes the relocation, saying it is ill-timed ahead of the 2011 general elections and that the vendors could lose their only livelihood.
The mayor, Charles Asiki, said they had allocated the vendors space in the main market and at Awindiri market, while those who sell fabrics were given Gaagaa, the largest textile market in the area.
Asiki said local tax collection had been affected as other business people had refused to pay licence fees, protesting the vendors presence.
In a letter of March 12, the business community threatened not to pay licence fees if the vendors were not relocated.
Asiki disclosed that with barely two months left to the close of the financial year, they had received only sh39m of the usual sh156m in total.
“With this kind of shortfall we are sure of performing poorly in the upcoming national assessment, which will cost the council a 20% cut of central government transfers,†Asiki said.
He noted that this would make it difficult for the council to offer adequate social services.
“Such effects will not arise because of our negligence but because somebody is making our job difficult,†Asiki lamented.
The acting town clerk, Colonalius Jobile, explained that besides the relocation, they also wanted to clear the pedestrian walkways and upgrade them under the town beautification programme.